The Californian Congressman heading up a group of Representatives who have demanded an explanation for massive ammunition purchases by the government explained yesterday that he feels duty bound to investigate the matter in a time when many Americans do not trust their government.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA), stated in a Fox News interview that he and fourteen other Congressman wrote to the Department of Homeland Security for answers because Americans deserve an explanation for what is a highly unusual situation.

“There is a big mistrust by many many people of their government these days and so when they ask me to check in on this, I think it is my duty as an elected official, as a representative, to get to the bottom.” LaMalfa told host Megyn Kelly.

“These are just questions that we think are appropriate, need to be asked, and they come from the people across the country.” he added.

LaMalfa explained that the DHS’s explanation so far in its purchase of close to 2 billion hollow point bullets[2] has not been acceptable, describing it as “a heck of a lot of rounds of ammunition and for some very dubious-sounding reasons.”

“…people are wondering why, for example, is the Social Security Administration getting almost 200,000 rounds of hollow point ammunition.” LaMalfa said. “What is it about our social security checks and administration that we have guys toting hollow point around with them?”

“If it’s for target practice, there is an awful lot of hollow point going out to these various agencies, that are not appropriate for target practice because they are much more costly rounds.” The Congressman noted.

“So it’s one thing to have the right people go out and do the practice that they need to do, but I think this is certainly worthy of a series of questions because a lot of people want to know.” he added.

“In this time of sequester where everything is a disaster, do they really have that kind of money to be spending on this amount of ammunition? Especially at a time when they are releasing many hardened criminals across the country.” LaMalfa also noted, referring to the recently uncovered strategy to release hundreds of prisoners[3] in order to meet budget cuts.

The Congressman also pointed to the fact that the ammo buys are contributing to nationwide shortages[4].

“… all told it’s about 2 billion rounds out there and yes, local law enforcement is having a hard time. They are having to buy from people they know that might have a stash, or other means that really isn’t very professional.” The Congressman said.

“It seems unusual and I think it is sending a wrong message to the people of this nation when they can’t buy their own ammunition. Our law enforcement can’t seem to buy their own ammunition.” he urged.

When asked if he believed the “conspiracy theories” that the government was preparing for civil unrest or intentionally attempting to restrict ammunition supplies, LaMalfa said “Well, that might be reaching a little far,” but added the caveat “There are people making fun of it a little bit, and you are using these words ‘paranoia’, but I think these questions are very appropriate.”

LaMalfa also said that the DHS has acknowledged his letter, and that he is now waiting for the agency to process an official response.

As we reported last week,[5] other members of Congress who have asked similar questions to those posed by LaMalfa have been rebuffed.

Watch the interview:

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Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor for Alex Jones’ Infowars.com[6], and Prisonplanet.com[1]. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham, and a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Literature and Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University.